Bay State Games Announces 2026 High School Spirit Recipients


August 6, 2026

Bay State Games Announces 2026 High School Spirit Award Recipients

Bay State Games is excited to reveal the recipients of the 2026 High School Spirit Challenge, awarding $1,000 grants to three Massachusetts high schools that demonstrated outstanding support and participation in the 2026 Bay State Summer Games.


These awards, organized by the Bay State Games, recognize Massachusetts High Schools that have the largest representation of athletes participating during the 2026 Bay State Summer Games. Bay State Games hopes these grants will support Massachusetts athletic programs.


Award winners by enrollment category:


Small schools (500 students and under): Nipmuc Regional High School

Medium schools (501–999 students): East Longmeadow High School

Large schools (1000+): Agawam High School


Three $1,000 grants, one per enrollment category, are awarded to schools with the highest number of registered student-athletes. Winners are determined by participation data collected during the Summer Games registration period, which spans from March through late July. 


“Since 1982, the support of high school athletic directors from across Massachusetts has been instrumental to our long-time success” said Kevin Cummings, Bay State Games Executive Director. “We welcome the opportunity to recognize schools for their support and provide funds to enhance their athletic programs”


For more information on the High School Spirit Challenge, please visit https://www.baystategames.org/spirit


August 5, 2026
The 2026 Bay State Summer Games Field Hockey Showcase took place from Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12 at Game On, Fitchburg
August 5, 2026
The 2026 Bay State Summer Games Boys Soccer Showcase took place from Thursday, July 9 - Saturday, July 11 at Game On, Fitchburg
August 5, 2026
The 2026 Bay State Summer Games Girls Soccer Showcase took place from Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11 at Game On, Fitchburg
August 4, 2026
The 2026 Bay State Summer Games Softball Showcase took place on Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9 at Willard Park, Devens
August 3, 2026
The 2026 Baseball Showcase took place between June 29th and July 1st at Pine Banks Park in Malden, MA.
June 5, 2026
Colin Roberts Awarded Kristian Rose Memorial Scholarship
April 7, 2026
Massachusetts Army National Guard Expands Partnership with Bay State Games
March 2, 2026
Bay State Games has announced new staff appointments and board leadership changes leading into the 2026 Summer Games.  Alanis Tirabassi has been promoted to deputy executive director. Alanis has been with Bay State Games since 2017, when she began as an intern while attending Salem State University. She was hired full-time as sports coordinator in 2020 and later promoted to director of operations before her recent promotion. She joins Kevin Cummings, who has been with the Bay State Games since 1984 and has served as executive director since 1999, as part of the organization’s two-person full-time staff. In addition to her role with Bay State Games, Tirabassi serves as a committee chairperson for the National Congress of State Games. She also works as a consultant for Dave McGillivary Sports Enterprises and Conventures Events, Communications & Marketing. After more than 22 years as chair of the Bay State Games Board of Directors, Phil Gloudemans will step down this spring. Under his leadership, Bay State Games has grown into one of the largest multi-sport nonprofit organizations in New England. He joined the Board of Directors in 1987 and he will continue to serve on the board and its executive committee. Gloudemans is the associate director of media relations at Boston College. Prior to his BC position, he held senior media relations roles at Brown University and Boston University, as well as with three international public relations firms in Boston. The Board of Directors has elected Dan Adams of Polsinelli PC Law Firm in Boston as its new board chair. Adams has served on the Bay State Games board for nearly 20 years and is head of sports and entertainment at Polsinelli PC. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MBA from Harvard University. In addition to his volunteer work with Bay State Games, Adams serves on the Board of Directors of the East Greenbush Miracle League. His experience with state games spans decades, including as a three-time participant in the Empire State Summer Games of New York. Registration for the 2026 Bay State Summer Games will begin in early March. The 2026 Summer Games will feature events from May 9 through July 25 across 30 different sports throughout eastern and central Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.baystategames.org
January 15, 2026
Bay State Winter Games Return to the Berkshires in 2026
November 24, 2025
Fall edition of the B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Program awards $125,000 to local non-profit organizations
More Posts